PORT CLINTON – When customers walk into EMPORIO 459, owners Steven and Yami Marvicsin hope their own personality comes through, with the store being a reflection of themselves.

The Marvicsin’s opened EMPORIO 459 on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in which they were recognized by the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Their independently owned retail shop sells a wide variety of Bohemian- and Caribbean-inspired artisan clothing and products as well as other handmade items from around the world.

Steven said the shop’s merchandise is a collection of everything they love. He described it as “beach bum, surfer, Bohemian and relaxed.”

Their own inspiration to open the store, they said, came from their travels and all of the interesting people they met. For three years before opening, the Marvicsins lived in the Caribbean, and it was there that they met so many artisans.

“We really loved everything that everybody was creating because they put their heart and soul into everything that they do,” Yami said. “We thought, ‘Hey, this is our favorite stuff anyway,’ so we put it together and kind of made a store out of it.”

One of the special parts of the store, they said, is “The Bohemian Dream” line by Lucia Flores, of the Netherlands. Flores creates one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage fabrics she finds in Amsterdam.

“We want to help people that come into our store make their mark and be different, be unique,” Yami said.

Another thing they hoped to accomplish by opening their store was to help other small businesses, so all of the T-shirts and bathing suits they carry are both independent brands and limited runs.

They are the only shop in Ohio selling brands such as Surf Wyoming, Uncharted Studio, Seaglass Swimwear and others.

“No one else will be wearing what you have,” Steven said. “We’ve carefully curated, almost like a museum, the products that we have. We don’t want to sell what J.C. Penny has.”

“I love talking about artisans because they all have a story and they’re so fun,” Yami said.

That artisanal theme, as well as the Bohemian and Caribbean atmosphere, are fittingly encapsulated in the small downtown shop at 115 Madison St. The Marvicsins transformed what was previously a pizza restaurant.

Steven said that, just from looking through the windows, he knew it was the spot they had to grab.

“We took just one look inside, and we knew this was it,” he said. “But it’s come a long way. For anyone that knew the building before, it’s gone from pizza-BBQ to this cool place.”

All of the hard work and effort were primarily so they could return to the place they love.

“We made a lot of sacrifices to get this going just so we could come back to Port Clinton,” Steven said. “We just love it here.”